Rules for Requesting a Formal Interpretation of the Guidelines

Formal interpretations (FIs) are for the purpose of providing formal explanations of the meaning or intent of the Guidelines for Design and Construction documents (the Guidelines).

1-1 .1 Limitations

A statement, written or oral, that is not processed in accordance with these rules shall not be considered the official position of the Health Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC) and shall not be considered to be, nor be relied upon as, an FI.

1-1.2 Nature of Formal Interpretations

Requests for FIs shall be clearly worded so as to solicit a pertinent answer from the Interpretations Task Group of the HGRC.

1-1.3 Editions to be Interpreted

FIs shall be rendered on the text of the requested edition of the Guidelines. However, any FI issued shall apply not only to the requested edition of the Guidelines but also to any other edition of the Guidelines in which the text is identical, except when deemed inappropriate by the HGRC.

1-1.4 Reason for Not Processing

A request for an FI shall not be processed if any of the following apply:

a. It involves determination of the compliance of a design, installation, or product.

b. It involves review of plans or specifications or requires judgment or knowledge that can only be acquired as a result of on-site inspection.

c. It asks about Guidelines text that clearly and decisively provides the requested information.

d. It involves subjects that were not previously considered by the HGRC or that are not addressed in the Guidelines.

The request shall include the information specified in the “Form to Request a Formal Interpretation” noted in Section 1-2 above. The required information includes a statement referencing a single issue and identifying the section and edition of the Guidelines for which the FI is being requested.

1-2.2 Reference to AHJ

A request that involves an actual field situation shall be so identified and the authority having jurisdiction shall be mentioned.

1-3 Processing

1-3.1 Determination of Qualifications

The chair of the Health Guidelines Revision Committee or the FGI CEO shall determine if the request for FI shall be processed in accordance with this policy.

1-3.2 Editing of Interpretation Request

A request for an FI may be rephrased to assist the Interpretations Task Group in rendering a decision.

1-3.3 Makeup of the Interpretations Task Group

If the request is accepted for consideration, at least five HGRC members with expertise in the subject area will receive an e-mail requesting a response for consideration. This group shall be considered the Interpretations Task Group.

1-3.4 Voting on Formal Interpretations

a. An FI requires a two-thirds majority agreement of the Interpretations Task Group.

b. Task group members may change their vote after hearing/reading the comments of other task group members if they so desire.

c. When consensus cannot be achieved, the item shall be placed on the docket for processing and resolution by the HGRC in the next revision cycle.

1-4 Issuance of Interpretation

If consensus is achieved, the requester shall be notified by the chairperson and the interpretations posted on the FGI website shall be updated.

1-4.1 Application

Any FI issued shall apply to the edition of the Document for which the FI is made and to any other edition of the Document where the text is identical to the text of the edition on which the FI was rendered unless deemed inappropriate by the HGRC.

1-5 Action Following Issuance of Formal Interpretation

During the proposal period of the next revision cycle, the HGRC shall prepare a committee proposal for all accepted FIs to clarify the text in the next edition of the Guidelines.

Hospitals

Please contact us for U.S. federal and state AHJ and student/faculty pricing.

The price for the e-book is the same as the price for the print book. Click here to order the e-book. Please note: The e-book is a single-user electronic book (not a PDF) and requires download of the free software Adobe Digital Editions to access.

This FGI product provides minimum standards for design and construction of hospitals and outpatient facilities. The standards for long-term care facilities appear in a separate document for 2014; please see the entry for Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities.

Included in the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities is information on the planning, design, construction, and commissioning process and facility requirements for hospitals and outpatient facilities. Included are general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities as well as new chapters on children’s and critical access hospitals. Outpatient facilities covered include primary care facilities; outpatient surgery facilities; birth centers; urgent care centers; mobile units; outpatient psychiatric and rehabilitation centers; facilities for endoscopy, dialysis, and cancer treatment; and a new chapter on dental facilities. In addition, the 2014 Guidelines includes new material on safety risk assessments and medication safety zones; increased requirements for commissioning infrastructure systems; and updated requirements for surgery, imaging, endoscopy, and dialysis facilities as well as primary care facilities and freestanding emergency facilities.

The 2013 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities is included as Part 4 of the 2014 FGI Hospital/Outpatient Guidelines.

The Joint Commission, many federal agencies, and authorities in 42 states use the Guidelines as either a code or a reference standard when reviewing, approving, and financing projects or surveying, licensing, certifying, or accrediting newly constructed facilities.

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Outpatient Facilities

Outpatient Facilities

Print Books Product Code: 055392 E-Books Product Code: P055392

Please contact us for U.S. federal and state AHJ and student/faculty pricing.

The Facility Guidelines Institute offers a package price for purchasing both 2014 FGI Guidelines documents—the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities and the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities—at the same time.

The price for the two-book e-book set is the same as the price for the two-book print set. Click here to order the e-book set. Please note: Each e-book is a single-user electronic book (not a PDF) and requires download of the free software Adobe Digital Editions to access.

Thanks for your interest in purchasing the Guidelines!

Before we send you to the order page, please consider giving us your name and e-mail address so we can notify you when corrections and formal interpretations of the Guidelines documents – as well as other valuable resources – become available.

Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities

Please contact us for U.S. federal and state AHJ and student/faculty pricing.

The price for the e-book is the same as the price for the print book. Click here to order the e-book. Please note: The e-book is a single-user electronic book (not a PDF) and requires download of the free software Adobe Digital Editions to access.

This FGI product provides minimum standards for design and construction of residential health, care, and support facilities for long-term care. The standards for hospitals and outpatient facilities appear in the separate 2014 FGI document Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities.

Based on Part 4, Residential Health Care Facilities, in the 2010 edition of the FGI Guidelines, the NEW Guidelines for Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities provides information on the planning, design, construction, and commissioning process and facility requirements for nursing homes and other facilities where long-term care is provided. In particular, the 2014 Guidelines includes new material on safety risk assessments; common planning and design elements for all residential health, care, and support facilities; updated requirements for nursing homes and hospice, assisted living, and adult day health care facilities as well as outpatient rehabilitation centers; and new chapters on independent living facilities and wellness centers. As well, the 2013 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities is included as Part 6 of this 2014 FGI Guidelines standard.

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